Freezing mechanism



1936- c. MORROW FREEZING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 1I L \Tllllllllllllllllj ||v| L u L I ATTORNEY.

' Aug. 11, 1936. c. MORROW FREEZING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

BY m

A TTORNEY.

Aug. 11, 1936. c. MORROW 2,050,975

FREEZING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 11, 1936.c. MORROW FREEZING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

6 W I 8 a Z 06 6 8 4 2 3 Q 4 fl Q5 m 4 Z My 12gb I By {pm/mica PatentedAug. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT oer-" ce H. H. Miller IndustriesCompany,

Canton,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application June 25, 1931, Serial No.546,689

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a freezing mechanism of the continuous batchtype and process of controlling the refrigerant during freezing andwhipping of each batch of material. The freezing mechanism is adapted tofreeze cream and other materials, usually termed mixes", whereby icecream, ices and similar products may be produced.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved freezing mechanismin which ammonia in its liquid state is utilized as the refrigerant forfreezing and whipping each batch of material.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valvemechanism adapted to control the supply of liquid ammonia for freezingthe material and escape of gas resulting from the ammonia formaintaining substantially different predetermined temperatures duringfreezing and whipping of each batch of material.

Another object of the invention is to construct a dual control valvemechanism to provide different predetermined temperatures around thefreezing cylinder, whereby freezing and whipping of each batch ofmaterial is positively controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved process ofcontrolling the refrigerant for freezing batches of material, wherebysuccessive batches may be frozen in minimum time.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a freezing mechanism embodying my invention, parts beingbroken away.

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of my improved valved mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a side view ofvalve mechanism that is slightly different in construction from thatshown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

In the drawings, i indicates a cylinder in which each batch of materialis frozen, the cylinder be-- ing closed by a rear head 2 and a removablefront head 3. The rear head 2 is provided with a valved controlledsupply pipe 4 leading from a measuring tank to. The front head 3 isprovided with a valve controlled outlet 5. The head 3 may be constructedas shown in Letters Patent No. 1,449,623 granted to Leroy S. Pfouts; 6indicates an agitating and ejecting mechanism within the cylinder l andpreferably comprising inner and outer rotatable members, the outermember 5 carrying suitable scrapers l and one or more ejecting elementsla. The agitating and ejecting mechanism is preferably constructedsubstantially similar to that shown in Letters Patent No. 945,570granted to John C. Miller. The rol0 tatable agitating members areconnected to two shafts, respectively, having concentric portions to,6b, which extendthrough the rear head 2 and are driven in a weli'knownmanner by a suitable driving mechanism 8. l5

s indicates a cylinder surrounding the cylinder 6, the space between thecylinders being closed at its rear and front ends by rings it, therebyforming a chamber or space if for the liquid ammonia and gas generatedtherefrom. The outer wall of the cylinder 3 may be suitably insulatedwith a jacket of cork or other non-heat conducting material 82. Bypreference the cylinder l comprises a wall of steel la and a wall ofnickel or an alloy containing nickel ib rolled to- 25 gether in a wellknown manner and the cylinder.

9 comprises a wall of steel, the rings it being welded thereto and thewall in.

83 indicates a reservoir andsupply chamber for the liquid ammonia. Mindicates a supply and 34p discharge pipe leading from the bottomportion of the chamber H and connected to a stand pipe it which in turnis connected to the reservoir [3, whereby the liquid ammonia will bedischarged from the cylinder space it into the latter and 35 thenreturned to the space H, as later set forth.

The standpipe i5 preferably comprises a tubular member closed at itslower end and fitted into a suitable base member it. The pipe it ispreferably connected to the standpipe' at a point above to its closedend, so that heavier ingredients such as oil may collect in thestandpipe 85 below the pipe it and be drained out through a pet cook orremovable plug l1. it indicates a pipe connected to the reservoir 53 andleading from a 46 source of supply for supplying liquid ammonia thereto.The pipe 48 is provided with a manually operated valve 19 and a valve20, which is automatically controlled by a float M in the reservoir, sothat in the event the level of the am- 50 monia falls below a certainlevel the valve 20 will open and supply liquid ammonia to maintain apredetermined quantity of ammonia in the system.

22 indicates a pipe leading from the upper end flange 31a.

of the reservoir and connected to arsuction creating mechanism such asthe intake of a compressor (not shown).

23 indicates a suction pipe connected to the upper portion of thechamber or space II and extending into the reservoir l3, preferably to apoint above the level of the liquid therein when the latter has beenforced into the reservoir. The pipe 23 is preferably extended into thepipe l5 and then upwardly therethrough. The pipe 23 serves as a conduitfor the vapor or gas given off by the ammonia due to the heat extractedfrom the material while being frozen, and whipped and also the excessgas in the space H at the end of the whipping operation.

The pipes l4 and 23 may be connected to the cylinder wall 9 in anysuitable manner. Preferably, the wall 9 is formed with openings in eachof which is mounted a fitting 90. having internally threaded openings inits end wall, as shown at 9b, the adjacent pipe (l4 or 23) beingthreaded into one opening 9b and the other opening 91) being closed by asuitable plug.

26 indicates a valve mechanism adapted to control the flow of the liquidammonia into the chamber II and out thereof, whereby maximumrefrigerating conditions may prevail during freezing of the material tothe desired temperature (approximately 25 degrees F) and restrictedpredetermined refrigerating conditions may prevail during the whippingoperation. The valve mechanism 25 is so constructed that in one positionit is fully opened and in its other position it is opened a restrictedamount, whereby a predetermined degree of refrigeration is maintainedaround the cylinder to prevent a rise in temperature of the frozenmaterial for any reason.

The valve mechanism 26 shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, comprises acompound valve element having dual controlling functions duringoperation of successive batches of mix, but may be completely closed atthe end of a days run. In these views, 260. indicates a casing in whichthe adjacent ends of the pipe 23 are threaded. One end wall is closed bya removable plug 29. The opposite end wall of the casing 211 is providedwith an external hollow boss 30 and an internal hollow boss 3|, inaxial, connected relation, the former being threaded internally toreceive an adjustable abutment 32, having a shank 33, which carries ahandle 34, whereby the abutment may be rotated to adjust its inner endinwardly .or outwardly. The internal boss 3| forms a guide for acompound valve element 35. The casing 26a. is shaped to form twochambers 21a, 280., into which the openings 21, 28, lead, respectively,and between the chambers the walls of the casing are restricted to forman opening 36 with which the valve element co-acts to effect the dualfunctions already referred to, one face of the wall surrounding theopening 36 also serving as a valve seat when the valve is closed at theend of the days run.

The valve element consists of two telescoping members 31, 38, the outeror tubular member 31 being provided at its inner end with a whichco-acts with the walls of the opening 36 and closed at its outer end toprovide a wall 39 to engage the abutment 32, which limits the movementof the flange 31a toward the opening 36 according to the adjustment ofthe abutment 32. An expansion spring 40 surrounds the member 31 andabuts against the free end of the boss 3| and the inner face of theflange 31a and normally tends to move the valve member 31 outwardly orin the direction to move the flange 31a away from the opening 33. Theinner valve member 38 consists of a plunger slidably or telescopicallyfitting the tubular member 31 and en- 5 gaging a cam 4|. Between theinner end of the plunger 38 and end wall 39 is a compression spring 42,which is relatively stronger than the spring 40, so that when the cam 4|is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 5, the plunger 38 will actthrough the spring 42 to move the valve member 31 inwardly, against thetension of the spring 40, to one control position (see Fig. 5). When thecam is rotated 180 degrees, the spring 40 will move both valve members31, 38, outwardly to the 15 full open or other control position of thevalve. At the end of the day's run, when it is desired to completelyclose the valve mechanism, the cam 4| is moved to the position shown inFig. 5 and thereafter the abutment 32 is rotated to back it outwardly.The spring 42, which is under tension, will then move the valve member31 inwardly relative to the valve member 38 and thus move the flange 31ainto closing engagement with the wall of the opening 36. The cam 4| issecured to a shaft 43 rotatably mounted in and extending through thecasing wall and provided with a. handle 44 on its outer end. 45 is agland for the shank of the abutment 32.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 I have shown a slightly different form of valvemechanism in which the controls of the liquid ammonia for freezing andwhipping are efiected by the co-operative relation of two valve elementsmounted in a single casing and by the; manipulation of a single valve.

In these views, 26a. indicates a casing having formed in its side wallsthreaded openings 21', 28, for the adjacent ends of the suction pipe 23,communicating with chambers 21a, 28a. The internal walls of the casing26a. are shaped to provide a valve opening having a valve seat for avalve element 31 and at one side of the valve opening the inner wall isformed with a port 38' with which a control member 88" co-acts torestrict the escape of gas, as later set forth, whereby apredetermination degree of refrigeration may be provided for in thespace H during whipping of the material. The inner end of the port 38 isof conical shape and the member 38" is of similar shape, whereby theseparts may serve as a valve when the run of freezing operations iscompleted. The control member 38" is mounted on the inner end of a shank46, which has a threaded portion 41, fitted into and through a threadedopening 48 formed in the casing wall, whereby the member 38" may beadjusted to vary the escape of gas through the opening 38', or entirelyclosed. The outer end of the shank 46 is provided with a handle 49. Themember 38" is shown in the adjusted position which it occupies duringthe day's run of freezing operations, unless it is found desirable tovary the escape of gas.

The valve element 31' is normally operated against its seat by a spring50, surrounding the shank of the valve element 31 and bearing against aremovable plug 5|, which has a recess to receive and guide the outer endof the shank. The inner face of the valve element is provided with athrust element 52 with which a cam 4| engages to effect movement of thevalve element 31', the cam being fixed to a shaft 53 having an operatinghandle 54.

The operation of the freezer mechanism is as follows: assuming that thevalve mechanism 23 is completely closed and a supply of liquid am- 75monia is in the receiver I3. I first admit a batch of the "mix" into thecylinder l and start the driving mechanism. I then operate the cam S! ahalf revolution to open the valve mechanism 26, that is, I move thevalve member 3'! to its full open position, which relieves the space Hof any gas that has accumulated therein and permits the liquid ammoniato gravitate downward and flood the space l. The freezing thencommences, and while this operation is taking place I adjust theabutment 32 to its operating position as shown in Fig. 5. At the end ofthe freezing operation, I rotate the-cam 4| to its first position, whichmoves the valve member 3'! into engagement with the abutment 32, whichmaintains the valve element in its other control position. In thiscontrol position, gas will accumulate in the space H and force thelarger portion of the liquid ammonia out of the space ll into thereceiver I3; however, due to the escape provided for by the valveelement in this control position, a suflicient quantity of liquidammonia will remain in the space II to provide limited refrigeration forthe material during whipping thereof and discharge of the material fromthe cylinder 1. When the material is discharged, a new batch is admittedto the cylinder 1 and the valve member 31 is then moved to its open orother control position, thus allowing the accumulated gas in the space ii to escape and the liquid ammonia to flow thereinto.

In my construction, I provide dual control valve mechanism in a singlecasing and control of the liquid ammonia for both operations of freezing5 and whipping of the material is efiected by the operation of a singlehandle.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changesin construction and widely difiering embodiments and applications of 10the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. My disclosures and the description hereinare purely illustrativeand are not intended to be in any sense limiting.15

What I claim is:

In a. ireezing mechanism, the combination of inner and outer members,said outer member surrounding and spaced from the walls of said innermember, said inner member consisting of a cyl- 20 inder formed ofpre-rolled together materials, the material for the inner surface ofsaid cylinder being non-corrosive, heads for the opposite ends of saidcylinder, one of said heads being formed with an inlet and one thereofbeing formed with 2 a valved outlet, means for closing the space betweensaid members at the ends thereof, and material agitating means withinsaid cylinder.

CLIFFORD MOB-ROW.

